Chapters A Better Beginning
One month had passed and it was the day of the Gala. Everypony headed over to The Carousel Boutique to see Rarity and pick up their dresses. Rarity saw them come in and said, "Hi everypony! I am so happy you let me make your dresses!"
Twilight replied, "Well of course Rarity! Who else would we even consider having make them. You are our friend and the best designer in all of Ponyville, if not Equestria."
Applejack asked, "Hey everypony, it is still a while before Twilight makes us a carriage and Rarity cons a couple of stallions into pulling it up to Canterlot, so how about we go over to the orchard and have some cider?"
Rarity's jaw dropped open. She shouted, "Applejack, are you kidding? The Gala is tonight and you expect me to go over to Sweet Apple Acres? What if I were to get dirty?"
Applejack threw her hooves up in the air and replied, "Y'all know what Rarity? I'm sure that my farm isn't any dirtier than your yard!"
Twilight shouted, "Girls! Stop it. Tonight is like a second chance to make up for last year. Fighting isn't the way to start this day out. It could be bad Karma."
Rainbow laughed, "Karma Twilight? That is a good one! Since when has Miss Rational Thinker believed in things like Karma!"
Twilight gritted her teeth but decided to not start fighting. She went outside and knocked an apple off of a tree. Using the same spell that she used last year, she turned the apple into a carriage. Twilight looked over at her friends and said, "Pretty neat, huh?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes and asked, "Twilight, you said that last year. Let me guess, you are going to turn a few mice into incredibly ugly horses?"
Twilight gave her a dirty look and replied, "Rainbow, as far as the carriage goes, you don't mess with what works. As far as those who will pull our carriage, I will let Rarity handle it."
Fluttershy commented, "Oh thank goodness. I don't want to see any of my critter friends go through that much trauma again."
Rarity interrupted, "Don't worry Fluttershy, I have the entire situation under control."
Rarity walked over to where Lucky and Clover were standing. Before she could say anything Clover asked, "Let me guess Rarity, you want us to pull your carriage up to the Gala?"
Rarity gave them a smile and replied, "Uh yeah, I was going to see if you would do that for us again."
Lucky said, "We will do it as long as that dragon doesn't whip us like we are stagecoach horses."
Rarity replied, "Oh don't worry. He won't do that this time. All I will have to do is entice him with one gem and he will behave."
Rarity fastened Lucky and Clover to the front of the carriage and said, "Now Spike, you behave this time. If you do, I have a nice tasty fire ruby waiting for you when we get home!"
Spike promised Rarity that he would behave and just let the two get them there in their good time. One hour arrived and they finally arrived in Canterlot from Ponyville. Spike opened the door of the carriage and everypony got out. They looked spectacular. Unlike last year, they didn't have sky high expectations. While they did plan on spending some time alone, they did plan on time together as well.
Twilight asked, "Alright everypony, are we going to have our together time first or are we going to split at first and then meet somewhere later?"
Fluttershy replied, "Well I think we should split first. I do want to go see if the animals in the gardens remember me."
Rainbow added, "Well Fluttershy, if they do, I'm sure they will run in terror. Just don't cause them to stampede again!"
Everypony else agreed that they should first split and then meet in the throne room later and then headed off their own way.
Twilight said, "Spike, let's go see Princess Celestia.....Spike?"
Twilight looked around and saw Spike up on Rarity's back as they were headed towards the massive buffet Luna had put together this year. Twilight thought to herself, "Hmmm...Well I guess they are going to spend some time together. Well off to see Celestia."
Twilight arrived in the throne room and ran up to Celestia. She said, "Princess Celestia! It is so wonderful to see you again!"
Celestia replied, "Princess Twilight, I am so happy that you could make it again this year!"
Twilight asked, "So Celestia, do you think things will be going better this year?"
Celestia smiled and replied, "Of course it will. I have set aside time solely for us to talk. I just put up a sign that said, 'Welcome to the Gala.'"
Twilight and Celestia sat at her throne and discussed affairs that are affecting Equestria and discussed normal, everyday things. While they were doing that Fluttershy was out in the gardens. The animals saw her and started hiding in the trees and bushes. Fluttershy saw this and got sad. She said, "I know I scared all of you last year but I PROMISE not to scare you or chase you this year!"
As hard as she tried, Fluttershy simply could not get the animals to come out of hiding. Finally she sat there and began to cry. Her meadowlark she chased last year flew down and landed in front of her. She looked up and smiled. She said, "Hello little friend! You guys see, I'm not here to harm you! I just want to visit!"
Fluttershy began talking more to the meadowlark and then very soon all the animals in the gardens had gathered around her and she was carrying on quite the conversation with them. While she did this Applejack had set up shop over in the castle courtyard again this year, and just like last year, she had Soarin' as her first customer.
Soarin' walked up to her apple stand and said, "Hey, I remember you! You're the one who sold me that awesome apple pie last year. I would like to buy another one!"
Applejack replied, "Why thank you Soarin' and just like last year, I know you will enjoy it."
Soarin' paid for the pie and devoured it very quickly. Other ponies saw the Wonderbolt buy the pie and very soon she had a whole line of ponies waiting to buy her treats. She was thinking to herself, "Wow, this year is going to be different!"
While Fluttershy was in the gardens, Twilight was with the Princess and Applejack was making money very quickly, Rainbow Dash was in the banquet room where she ran into Spitfire. Spitfire immediately recognized her and asked, "So Rainbow Dash, I see you made it again this year. Sorry about last year and not getting to hang much. I don't know where Soarin' is, but wanna hang for a while?"
Rainbow replied, "Sure! I'm up for that."
Very soon Soarin' joined Spitfire and Rainbow in an in depth discussion regarding racing and upcoming events. While they did this Pinkie looked up at the stage and realized that she could not do what she did last year. Without her noticing it, Princess Luna landed next to her. She asked, "Pinkie Pie, I heard about what happened last year and I tell you, I am so bored. How about both of us go up there and liven things up a bit?"
Pinkie looked up at Luna, smiled and asked, "Really?"
Luna replied, "Really!"
Luna picked up Pinkie and levitated her up to the stage. Luna shouted, "Ok everypony, I think it is time we shake things up a bit here. This is way too boring, so it is time to par-tay!"
Luna and Pinkie got some party music going on the record player while Rarity and Spike see Blueblood on the far end of the banquet hall. Spike asks, "Rarity, who is that pony over there giving us weird looks?"
Rarity replied, "That is our target. That is the pony who was so mean to me last year. After tonight, he will wish he was never born!"
Spike smiled at Rarity and replied, "Well I'm ready to help you teach him a lesson! I'm ready when you are!"
Rarity and Spike headed over towards Blueblood without being too obvious. Rarity wanted to eventually get to him and punish him for what she did, but she didn't want to draw too much attention to herself. Very soon she would find out that her target would be much easier to acquire than she ever imagined.
Spike and Rarity were sneaking through the banquet hall, over in the direction of where they saw Blueblood. Spike was a bit nervous but Rarity was thirsting for blood. Very soon they reached the other side of the banquet hall and ran into Blueblood. And just like last year, he was as uppity as ever.
He glared at her and said, "Ew, a commoner has come too close to my royal hide..." He then saw Spike on her back and changed his attitude, "Wow, who are you?" he asked
Rarity smiled and said, "Well my name is Princess Platinum and this is my baby dragon, Spike."
Spike waved at Blueblood with a nervous smile on his face. Blueblood asked, "Wow, I never imagined I would meet a beautiful mare who had her own dragon! Wait a minute, did you say princess? Where are you from? I don't see you around here."
Rarity began to get nervous. She decided that lying would be the best thing to do. She replied, "Oh I am the daughter of Queen Moonheart and King Gold Mane over in the Equine Empire. I know Princess Celestia and she invited me and one guest, so I decided to bring my baby dragon with me."
Blueblood got a huge grin on his face. He realized that if he could get her to fall in love with him that he might have a shot at being a prince and someday maybe even becoming king of the Equine Empire. He said, "Well my lady, let's go over and get some food. I'm starving."
The three headed over to the banquet table and saw all sorts of food. While Blueblood was getting salad and escargot Rarity was getting some pork chops and oats. Blueblood looked at her and asked, "Ewww, Princess Platinum, how can you stand to eat stuff like that? That is like what commoners in Ponyville eat."
Rarity rolled her eyes and replied, "Well this is what we eat in the palace back home all the time. We tend to eat a lot of meat back home and where is this Ponyville place you speak of? It sounds like they eat really good there."
Prince Blueblood broke into a nervous sweat. He was repulsed by what Rarity was eating but knew that if he wanted a shot at someday being a king, that he might want to give it a chance. Blueblood then put some of the oats and pork chops on his plate.
Blueblood said, "Well if the royalty over in Maredrid eats like this, then I will try some."
They sat down at a nearby table and began to eat their meal. Blueblood began to eat the pork chops and it was all he could do to choke it down while Rarity quickly ate hers. She saw Blueblood's problems with his meal and asked, "Prince Blueblood, what is wrong? Do you not like your meal?"
Blueblood finally got his first bite down and replied, "Well this is the first time I have ever ate anything like this. My aunt Celestia doesn't eat stuff like this either."
Rarity asked, "What about your other aunt, Princess Luna?"
Blueblood replied, "The few times I have seen Luna eat she eats more meat than you do. She kind of gives me a cold shoulder. I don't know why, but the few times I do run into her she just gives me this ice cold glare."
Rarity said, "Luna is like that. She kind of has that rough and tough attitude. I guess patrolling the night every night will do that to you. Give her some time and she will be as good towards you as Celestia is."
Finally forty minutes later Blueblood finished his meal and asked, "Princess Platinum, would you be up for a dance?"
Rarity replied, "Why of course! How could I say no to such a charming prince?"
Blueblood was ecstatic. They headed out to the dance floor and began to dance. Spike remained close by Rarity's side to make sure that Blueblood didn't try any funny stuff. After an hour of dancing Blueblood asked, "Princess Platinum, I am wondering if you would want to go somewhere more private to talk. I think we should get to know one another better."
Rarity replied, "Of course, just remember though my baby dragon will be accompanying us. It is tradition in the Equine Empire that a princess and her baby dragon accompany one another pretty much at all times."
Blueblood asked, "Princess Platinum, you might find this kind of odd but I don't know a whole lot of areas in the castle where we could spend some alone time. You said you know Princess Celestia. Has she shown you much of the castle?"
Rarity replied, "Follow me your Majesty, I know of a good place."
Spike hopped up on Rarity's back as they led Blueblood to what would wind up being the most nightmarish place he would experience in his whole life. Once they got to an area where there were no other ponies around Rarity told Blueblood to close his eyes. He closed his eyes as she led him through a door, down some stairs into a dank, dark place. Rarity used her horn to create some light so they could see where they were going. Finally she told him to open his eyes.
Blueblood got a nervous look on his face. He asked, "Princess, what are we doing in the dungeon? Is this where we are going to talk some more?"
Rarity replied, "Yeah, you could say that. There is nopony locked up down here and besides, it has plenty of privacy."
Rarity and Blueblood engaged in some minor chit chat and finally Rarity had lulled Blueblood into a false sense of security. She asked, "Prince Blueblood, can I ask you of a favor?"
Blueblood looked at Rarity and said in a dreamy voice, "Anything for you your Majesty."
Rarity asked, "Could you sit down so that we are more on eye level?"
Blueblood replied, "Of course, anything for you Princess Platinum."
Blueblood sat down and he and Rarity were at eye level. Rarity moved in like she was going to kiss him. He continued, "Oh Princess, I never imagined I would....."
Rarity put her hoof over his mouth and said, "Shhhh....we don't want anypony to hear us."
Rarity got up and before he could even react she bit a majority of his horn off. This caused him to go into a panic. He was shouting, "HELP, HELP. PRINCESS PLATINUM BIT OFF MY HORN!"
Blueblood began running around in a panic and ran straight into a wall, knocking himself unconscious. Rarity was thrilled with this. She asked, "Spike, you see that spear with the iron handle there? I want you to put it on the floor where that metal but hold it upright."
Spike replied, "Of course!"
Spike held the spear upright and Rarity used her magic to weld the upright spear into the floor. She had this sadistic grin on her face as she finished the welding and picked up the unconscious Blueblood. Spike asked, "Rarity, what are you going to do?"
Rarity laughed, "Oh you'll see! I think you will like it."
Rarity levitated Blueblood to where he was in an upright position. She began to lower him onto the spear, having it enter him through his behind. She continued to lower him gently, making sure that the spear did not puncture or go through any vital organs. Spike was watching all this in horror and asked, "Rarity? Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"
Rarity replied, "Spike, be quiet. I don't want anypony hearing us."
Finally as the tip of the spear began to come out of Blueblood's mouth he was starting to come to. He was groaning in pain and moving around. Rarity said, "Damn, we can't have him moving around on the spear!"
Rarity fired a bolt of energy at the ceiling causing part of it to fall in and hit him on the head, knocking him unconscious. This also caused some of the blood to go flying onto Rarity's dress. Rarity shouted, "MY DRESS!"
Spike said, "Shhh...Rarity, we can't have anypony hearing us!"
Rarity replied, "You're right Spike, I need to keep quiet."
Rarity finished lowering Blueblood onto the spear and saw his bitten off horn laying on the floor. She got a smirk on her face and picked it up. She levitated it and fired it at his face, ramming it up into his nose. Rarity got a huge smile on her face and then said, "Spike, we need to get going!"
Rarity closed the cell door behind her, leaving the unconscious Blueblood impaled all alone in his cell. After fifteen minutes of sneaking around they finally got back to the banquet hall. Her and Spike ran into Rainbow and she asked, "So, where have you two been? The rest of us have been waiting ten minutes for you and Spike to get here."
Rarity replied, "Well uh, you know we were just taking a look around."
Rarity and Spike followed RD back to where the others had gathered. Applejack had a huge grin on her face. Rarity asked, "Applejack, what are you so happy about?"
Applejack replied, "Well thanks to everypony seeing Soarin' buying one of my apple pies everypony else lined up to buy my food and it wasn't too long until I sold out and made 1500 bits for Sweet Apple Acres!"
Rarity smiled and said, "Wow Applejack, you really hit the big time this year."
Applejack replied, "Eeyep. That is just enough to take Granny Smith to Manehattan and get that hip replaced. I'm so happy!"
The rest of the night went normally for them until it was one in the morning and the Gala ended. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sent them off. Luna asked, "Did all of you have a good time tonight?"
Applejack replied, "You bet your Majesty! I did awfully good this year!"
Pinkie added, "You bet Princess! You and I had a lot of fun making things more exciting!"
Rarity added, "Of course your Majesties, tonight involved the type of fun anypony would kill for!"
Finally they headed home and Twilight asked, "Rarity, why would you say something like that? That just doesn't sound like something you would say."
Rarity replied, "Oh well, you know, sometimes you just say things differently."
Little did Twilight know that what Rarity said would wind up being all too true. Once they got home Twilight asked Spike, "So Spike, what did you and the love of your life do tonight?"
Spike replied, "Well I just showed her different parts of the castle and we talked about gems and what her goals are in life. You know, nothing major."
Twilight said, "Well ok, whatever you say. I'm getting tired. Let's get some sleep."
The following morning arrived and Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were sitting down to breakfast, well supper for Luna after finishing their royal duties. Flash Sentry came running into the dining hall. When he got there he was winded and said, "Your Majesties, I don't know how to tell you this but your nephew is missing."
Celestia looked up. Her jaw dropped open and she asked, "Which one?"
Flash replied, "It is Prince Blueblood. The last time he was seen was around ten o'clock last night at the Gala. What do you wish for us to do?"
Luna yawned, "It's up to you big sister. You're the one who is closer to him."
Celestia replied, "Well I want you guys to look for him. Search all of Canterlot if you have to. Search every last house until he is found. I know he isn't the friendliest pony but still, he is part of my, i mean our family."
Flash said, "Yes your Majesty, we will do our best." Flash headed out to the courtyard and told the royal guard what the princess had said.
Celestia gave Luna an odd look and asked, "Luna, you do know that he is your nephew too don't you? Aren't you even the slightest bit concerned about where he is?"
Luna replied, "You know what big sister? He is just a royal pain. He probably got rejected by one of the mares at the Gala last night and is hiding bawling his eyes out. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to try to get some sleep. Being up all night is tiring."
Luna headed to bed and Celestia sighed. She was worried about her nephew yet at the same time she was disgusted by the fact that Luna didn't even seem to care.
An hour had passed when moaning was heard coming from the dungeon. Gray Wings, captain of the Lunar Royal Guard heard this and ran into the throne room to alert Celestia. He said, "Your Majesty, we must wake Luna up to investigate moaning noises in the dungeon."
Celestia replied, "I don't know if that is such a good idea. You know how mad she gets when she is woken up, but I will go wake her."
Celestia headed to Luna's bedroom. She walked up to her and said, "Little sister, get up. We have something strange going on that we need you to check out."
Luna growled, "Big sister, can't you just go check it out? Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?"
Celestia replied, "There are moaning noises down in the dungeon and it is part of your royal duties to go check on things like that."
Luna got up and shouted, "FINE! THIS BETTER BE IMPORTANT OR I'M NOT GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY!"
Luna, Celestia, Gray Wings and Flash Sentry headed down into the dungeon. As they headed towards the back the moaning was getting louder. Finally they got to the back cell and saw Blueblood impaled on a spear. Celestia began to cry but Luna began to laugh hysterically. She was laughing so hard she began to cry.
Celestia shouted, "Little sister, how could you laugh at something like this. Yes I know he isn't exactly your favorite nephew but still, he is family. I don't care who it is, I wouldn't wish this on my own worst enemy."
Luna and Gray Wings headed into the cell to further asses what they are seeing. Luna takes a closer look and begins to laugh harder. She laughed, "Oh look, and his horn has been bitten off and shoved up his nose! And look on the floor, some blood has dripped and the stain looks like a smiley face! This is far too funny! Don't you think Gray Wings?"
Gray Wings started laughing hysterically as well and said, "You bet it is your Majesty! This is one of those moments where you wish you had a camera!"
Luna laughed, "Well we will have to take pictures for the criminal investigation. Go get my camera, this one will need a ton of pictures taken!"
Celestia cried, "Luna, is he still alive or is he gone?"
Blueblood continued to moan, not as loudly but still, he drew breath. Luna replied, "Well big sister he is still making noises now isn't he so I would assume he is still alive!"
Gray Wings returned with Luna's camera and began to take pictures. Luna ordered, "Be sure and take at least 10 of him on the spear. We need each one to be from different angles, then we can take him off of the spear."
Gray Wings took all the pictures Luna desired and then Celestia proceeded to levitate him off of the spear. During the process of lifting him off she slipped and dropped him a bit, causing the spear to go straight through his heart. He let out one final scream before drawing his last breath. This caused Celestia to cry harder.
Celestia cried, "Curse whoever did this, curse them!"
Flash Sentry said, "Well you did drop him in the process of removing him from the spear, so whoever did this isn't directly responsible for his death."
Celestia shouted, "I don't care. I will find who did this and make sure they are charged with first degree murder. Whoever did this had the intent to kill him!"
Gray Wings asked, "Wouldn't that make the worst they could be charged with be attempted first degree murder?"
Celestia knew that her botching removing him from the spear made that the worst she could pursue. She finished removing him from the spear and took his body to the morgue to be prepared for burial. Celestia ran up to her bedroom, covered herself up entirely with her blankets and started sobbing louder and louder.
Flash Sentry followed her and said, "Your Majesty, it isn't your fault that he died while you were removing him from the spear. That could have happened to anypony."
Celestia peeked her head out from under her covers and said, "Flash, I feel like it is all my fault. I lost my concentration for just one second and that caused me to lose hold of him."
Flash replied, "Don't worry your Majesty, we will conduct an investigation and we will find who did this."
Celestia said, "Thank you Flash, I know you will."
In the throne room Luna is sitting in the throne room with Gray Wings. Luna is very tired, so tired that she is nodding off every now and then. Finally when she is a bit awake Gray Wings asked, "Your Majesty, who do you think might have done this?"
Luna growled, "I don't know and personally I don't care. Hopefully they will just find someone, bring them before me in court so I can acquit them. If Celestia were gone I would find whoever did it and give them a medal for ridding the royal family of an embarrassment. I'm going back to lay down for a while. I have a long night ahead of me. Unless the city is under siege, don't wake me up!"
Gray Wings stood guard at Luna's door to make sure nopony woke her up. Celestia approached Luna's door but was stopped by Gray Wings. Celestia asked, "Gray Wings, can I talk to my sister?"
Gray Wings replied, "Your Majesty, Luna ordered me to not wake her unless the city was under siege. Can't it wait until it is time for her to wake up?"
Celestia stormed off towards the throne room. She wanted so badly to talk to her sister and ask her why she doesn't even care about the death of Blueblood but knew that she had better wait.
Celestia arrived back in Canterlot shortly before it was time to lower the sun so Luna could raise the moon. After fulfilling her royal duties she headed out to the balcony where Luna was standing. She said, "Well little sister, I found out some interesting things in Ponyville today."
Luna asked, "Oh, and what was that?"
Celestia replied, "Well I did some questioning and I think that it was Rarity and Spike who impaled Blueblood. Tomorrow I am going to send the royal guard to go down and arrest them for first degree attempted murder."
Luna sneered, "Oh and I take it this is just you filling the judge in on what is going on?"
Celestia asked, "Well yeah. Now you can be impartial on this can't you? I know you didn't care for Blueblood but we can't just have you acquitting them because you probably thought Blueblood deserved it."
Luna replied, "Now come on big sister, you know I'm not going to go intentionally acquitting ponies based on who the victim of the crime is."
Celestia asked, "What about when Rarity and Spike were brought up here in the case of Octavia's cello? Even though the evidence was plain as day, you still acquitted them."
Luna replied, "Big sister, the police officer put all the evidence in the same bag which made it unusable in a court of law, which made it basically wild accusations. That wasn't a matter of me ruling in their favor because of them being my friends, that was following Equestrian law and I shall do the same again this time."
Celestia smiled and said, "Now that is why you are in charge of all judicial matters. You follow the law while I would look at things beyond testimony and evidence. I follow my gut feelings and I know that would result in a lot of wrongful convictions. I am sorry I have doubted you little sister."
Luna replied, "It's ok big sis. You handle all the foreign relations because I would be too likely to start wars so it is pretty much an even give and take. Besides, I don't think I would want to put up with all the red tape you put up with."
Celestia said, "Oh now little sister, I'm sure you could handle it if you had to. Well I'm getting tired, I'm going to bed."
Luna replied, "Well you get plenty of rest. Good night big sister."
That night was a peaceful calm one and when Celestia got up the following morning she was full of cheer and hope. After she raised the sun and her and her sister headed in for breakfast, Luna asked, "So what has you in such a good mood today?"
Celestia replied, "Well today is the day that Rarity and Spike are going to be arrested for impaling Blueblood!"
Luna yawned, "Well I will probably be asleep by the time your royal guard gets back with them. So are you going with your guard to go arrest them?"
Celestia replied, "At first I wasn't thinking about doing so but now I think I should. It will make them know that I mean business."
Luna finished her meal and headed towards her room. She said, "Whatever big sister, you have fun going out arresting ponies for no good reason."
Celestia just grunted and then headed out to the castle courtyard where she was greeted by Flash Sentry and White Wings. Celestia said, "Ok, I need you two to take me to Ponyville. I have a couple arrests I need to make."
Flash asked, "May I ask who you have to arrest your Majesty?"
Celestia replied, "No, just get going."
Celestia and her royal guard headed off towards Ponyville. Twilight and her friends were headed to Sugarcube Corner when she saw the royal guard and Celestia coming into town. Twilight ran up to where Celestia had landed and said, "Princess Celestia! I am so happy to see you! Are we finally going to get to talk for a while?"
Celestia replied, "No. Flash Sentry, White Wings, grab Rarity and Spike. They need to come with me."
Rarity began to struggle when Flash Sentry grabbed a hold of her. She started shouting, "Get your hooves off of me!"
Celestia got tired of her struggling and just levitated her up onto her chariot. White Wings had no problems with Spike though. Twilight asked, "Princess Celestia, why are you taking Rarity and Spike with you like that? Couldn't they just catch the train up there with the rest of us?"
Celestia replied, "No Twilight, they can't. It is believed that they are the perpetrators of an extremely brutal crime. I need all of you to catch the train up to Canterlot. I need to question all of you. Flash Sentry, White Wings, get going, we need to get back to Canterlot now."
As Celestia took off towards Canterlot Twilight shook her head and asked, "Girls, what do you think happened?"
Rainbow replied, "I don't know but I think we better get up to Canterlot. I think the next train to Canterlot leaves in ten minutes."
While Twilight and her friends rushed over to the train station Celestia, her royal guard and her prisoners arrived back in Canterlot. Celestia said, "Flash Sentry, White Wings, haul these two down to the dungeon. Do not put them in the same cell and put Rarity in the same cell where we found my nephew's body. That might make her think about things more."
Both prisoners decided they better not struggle any as it could result in further charges. Celestia headed to Luna's room and woke her up. She said, "Little sister, wake up. I want to start this trial today."
Luna growled at her and replied, "Oh fine. Let's get this over with. Things like this displease me."
Luna stormed into her chambers waiting for court to start. Celestia went and got North Pole and South Pole while Flash Sentry and White Wings waited at the train station for the arrival of Rarity's friends. Once they arrived there Celestia's royal guardsponies led them to the throne room where Celestia waited with Blueblood's brothers.
Finally the time for the trial had arrived. Very soon Rarity and Spike would learn what their fates would be. While Spike was terrified, Rarity had a feeling deep down that Luna would acquit the pair.
The Prosecution's Questions
Everypony had gathered in the throne room when the bailiff, Gray Wings addressed the court. "All rise, court is now in session. The honorable Princess Luna will preside over the case of Equestria v. Rarity the unicorn and Spike the dragon over the charge of first degree attempted murder in the impaling of Prince Blueblood.
Luna added, "I have been filled in on the specifics of this court. Would the prosecution like to issue an opening statement? Brown Mane, the prosecuting attorney said, "Your honor, this has been brought to court because it is believed that Rarity the unicorn and Spike the dragon on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, confronted Prince Blueblood, lulled him into a false sense of security and led him down to the dungeon where his horn was bit off, he was knocked unconscious and then impaled."
Luna asked, "Does the defense have an opening statement which they wish to issue?"
Gray Hooves, the defense attorney said, "Your Honor and Majesty, it is the defense's belief that these are merely wild accusations as there is no physical evidence to cause anypony to believe that the events which the prosecution described ever happened. From what the defense understands, Prince Blueblood had many ponies who hated him who may have committed this crime."
Luna asked, "Alright, now that the opening statements have been issued I believe that some testimony is necessary. Who does the prosecution wish to call to the stand first?"
Brown Mane replied, "Your honor the prosecution would like to first call North Pole to the witness stand."
North Pole headed up to the stand. Once he got there Luna asked, "North Pole, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"
North Pole replied, "I do your honor."
Brown Mane asked, "North Pole, were you in attendance at the Grand Galloping Gala last week?"
North Pole replied, "Yes, I was in attendance."
Brown Mane asked, "Did you see any interactions between the victim and the defendants that night?"
North Pole replied, "Yes, I saw plenty of interactions between them. They did talk some, they were at the buffet together, they sat down and ate together, they went out and danced together for a while and I saw them leave the throne room together through a doorway on the back left side of the room."
Brown Mane asked, "Has anything every happened between the defendants and the victim in the past which may cause one or both of them to have some sort of vendetta against the victim?"
North Pole replied, "Well I do know that at the Grand Galloping Gala last year Prince Blueblood did shun Rarity and treated her poorly."
Brown Mane asked, "Last year, did the victim treat the defendant so poorly that it would have caused Rarity to want to kill him?"
North Pole replied, "Nothing that I could think of but then again I do not know either one of the defendants very well."
Brown Mane said, "Thank you. This is all I wish to ask of this witness."
Luna asked, "Does the defense with to cross-examine this witness?"
Gray Hooves replied, "Yes your honor." Gray Hooves approached the stand and stared straight into North Pole's eyes, intimidating him. He asked, "North Pole, so you say you saw the defendant and the victim leave the throne room through the door way at the back left side of the room? Do you know what they may have done afterwards?"
North Pole replied, "Well honestly I don't, they could have done anything..."
Gray Hooves interrupted, "So, what you are saying is that they could have parted ways after that?"
North Pole replied, "We-well yeah. I know there is an exit out to the back gardens that way...."
Gray Hooves got up in his face and asked, "So what you are saying that they very well could have went out into the back gardens and then parted ways?"
North Pole replied, "Uh yeah, they could have done that or they could have went......"
Gray Hooves interrupted, "That is all the defense wishes to ask this witness."
Luna said, "North Pole, you may be seated." Luna then asked, "Who does the prosecution wish to call to the stand next?"
Brown Mane replied, "The prosecution would like to call South Pole to the stand."
Luna Motioned for South Pole to go up to the stand. Once he got there Luna asked, "South Pole, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"
South Pole replied, "I do."
Brown Mane asked, "South Pole, were you in attendance at the Grand Galloping Gala last week?"
South Pole replied, "Yes, I was there with North Pole."
Brown Mane asked, "Since you were there with your brother, did you see pretty much the same things that your brother saw? What he said he saw, was it pretty much what you saw?"
South Pole replied, "Yeah, pretty much. I was a bit tired that night but what I saw was pretty much the same."
Brown Mane knew that continuing to question South Pole would be pointless. He said, "That is all I wish to ask this witness."
Luna asked, "Does the defense wish to cross-examine?"
Gray Hooves replied, "Yes your Majesty."
Gray Hooves got up in South Pole's face the way he did his brother's. He asked, "So, you say that you saw pretty much the same thing. From the sounds of things, any rational thinking pony would know that you did not see the exact same things. What difference in events did you see?"
South Pole replied, "Well I did see them talking, eating and dancing together but I don't exactly remember if I saw them leave the throne room where the events were being held through that doorway in the back left."
Gray Hooves asked, "So, you did not see them leave the throne room? Do you think that perhaps they exited through opposite exits entirely?"
South Pole replied, "Well they could have, I am not really sure."
Gray Hooves figured that this is all he would be able to get out of South Pole. He said, "Your Majesty, this is all I wish to ask this one."
Luna replied, "South Pole, you may be seated." She then asked, "Does the prosecution wish to call any other witnesses to the stand?"
Brown Mane replied, "Yes your honor. The prosecution would like to call Rarity to the stand."
Rarity headed up to the stand and was asked by Luna, "Rarity, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"
Rarity replied, "I do."
Brown Mane asked, "So Rarity, were you in attendance at the Grand Galloping Gala last week?"
Rarity replied, "Yes I was in attendance with my friends."
Brown Mane asked, "Was Spike the dragon among your friends that you were in attendance with?"
Rarity replied, "Yes, he was. Him and I did spend a decent amount of time together that evening."
Brown Mane asked, "Did the two of you run into and spend any time with the victim, Prince Blueblood?"
Rarity replied, "Yes, we did. After he showed that he was much friendlier this year than he was last year the two of us decided to dine and dance together."
Brown Mane asked, "After you finished dancing....OWWW my head, it hurts! That is all I wish to ask the defendant."
Brown Mane ran back down to the prosecution stand to get some painkillers while Luna asked, "Does the defense wish to cross-examine?"
Gray Hooves replied, "Yes your Majesty. Rarity so you and Spike did spend time with the victim on the night of the crime. How would you describe your interaction with him that night?"
Rarity replied, "Well I would say things went quite well. We talked about various things and he was very nice this year, much nicer than last year. A true gentlestallion if you ask me."
Gray Hooves asked, "Did the victim do anything either this year or the year before that would cause you to want to cause bodily harm to him?"
Rarity replied, "No, not at all. I will admit I was upset last year but I would never do to anypony what happened to the victim."
Gray Hooves replied, "I am finished questioning this witness."
Luna said, "Rarity, you may be seated."
Brown Mane interrupted, "But your honor, I was not through questioning her and I was unable to finish the question I was asking her."
Luna replied, "Brown Mane, you said that you were through questioning her when you ran back to the stand with your headache. Pursuant to Equestrian statute 3.21.43a you may not continue to question this witness. Does the prosecution wish to call any other witnesses to the stand?"
Brown Mane shouted, "NO!"
Luna replied, "Well then, court is in recess. When I return the defense will call their witnesses to the stand."
Rarity had a nervous smile on her face as it seemed that things weren't going so badly for them up to that point. Blueblood's brothers were not thrilled because they felt the defense had been far too aggressive in their cross-examination. Celestia sat there with a scowl on her face realizing that the defendants might get acquitted.
An hour passes and Luna returns to the courtroom. Gray Wings says, "All rise. Court is now back in session. Presiding over the proceedings is the Honorable Princess Luna."
Luna gets to the bench and says, "You may be seated."
Luna continued, "The prosecution has called their witnesses to the stand. Now it is time for the defense's turn. Gray Hooves, who do you wish to call to the stand first?"
Gray Hooves replied, "I would like to call Princess Celestia to the stand."
Celestia got a stunned look on her face. Never before had a princess been called to the stand to testify in any sort of court proceeding. She said, "But a princess has never been called to the stand. I shouldn't have to do this."
Luna gave her a scowl and replied, "Princess Celestia, either you come up here and testify or I will hold you in contempt of court, which is a crime in itself. You don't want that now do you?"
Celestia walked up to the witness stand where Luna asked her, "Princess Celestia, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"
Celestia sneered, "I do."
Gray Hooves asked, "Princess Celestia, I would assume you were in attendance at the Grand Galloping Gala but I do want to make sure. Were you in attendance at the Gala?"
Celestia replied, "Well duh! Of course I was there! It was part of my royal duties you idiot!"
Luna shouted, "ORDER IN THE COURT. Princess Celestia, there is no need for you to behave in such a manner. Continued behavior like this will result in you being held in contempt of court. You may continue Gray Hooves."
Celestia sat there and sulked. Gray Hooves asked, "Princess Celestia, so what did you do at the Gala?"
Celestia replied, "Well unlike in past years where I greeted everypony who attended the Gala personally, I made a sign that read 'welcome to the Gala' and spent the whole evening talking to Twilight Sparkle."
Gray Hooves asked, "Princess, did you see any interactions between the defendants and the victim?"
Celestia replied, "No, Twilight and I were so busy talking that I really didn't see any interactions between any of the guests."
Gray Hooves asked, "So basically you have no clue what could have happened? Had it not been for prior testimony today you would not have been able to with perfect certainty said that the defendants interacted with the victim at all. Is that correct?"
Celestia was getting flustered. She replied, "Well no, I wou-woldn't have been able to."
Gray Hooves got up in her face and asked, "Princess Celestia, do you think that either Rarity or Spike understand pony anatomy so well that they would know EXACTLY how to impale a pony as to miss every single organ in their body?"
Celestia was biting her hooves and replied, "Well no. Rarity's special talent is fashion. She is not a doctor."
Gray Hooves said, "I am through questioning this one."
Luna asked, "Does the prosecution wish to cross-examine this witness?"
Brown Mane replied, "Yes your honor."
Brown Mane walked up to Celestia and asked, "Alright, so you spent the whole evening talking to Twilight Sparkle and didn't see anything. Is there anything that you know of that may have caused the defendants to inflict bodily harm on the victim?"
Celestia replied, "Well given how bad Blueblood treated Rarity last year I could see it happening. Of course Blueblood has a lot of enemies because he treats everypony poorly."
Brown Mane threw his hooves up in the air and said, "Well your honor, I think this is all the relevant testimony I can get out of this witness."
Luna said, "Celestia, you may be seated." While Celestia was being seated she asked, "Does the defense wish to call anypony else to the stand?"
Gray Hooves replied, "Yes, I would like to call Princess Twilight Sparkle to the stand."
Twilight headed up to the stand and Luna asked, "Princess Twilight, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"
Twilight replied, "Yes your Majesty."
Gray Hooves asked, "Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia said that you two spent the whole evening talking. She also said that she did not see any interactions between any of the guests. What about you? Did you see any interactions between any of the guests?"
Twilight replied, "Well no, I didn't. We were both in a place where we could not see any of the activities that were going on. We wanted to be able to talk, just the two of us. We did not want to be bothered."
Gray Hooves asked, "Princess Twilight, did Rarity tell you anything about what her and Spike did that evening or did she say anything that you may have found odd?"
Twilight replied, "Rarity didn't mention anything in particular but when we were getting ready to leave Princess Celestia asked us if we had a good time and Rarity said something like that she had such a good time that anypony would kill for. I found that kind of odd but I didn't find it completely crazy."
Gray Hooves asked, "So it was just something like that? It wasn't exactly what she said?"
Twilight replied, "Well it involved something involving a good time that anypony would kill for. I don't remember the exact words."
Gray Hooves said, "Your Majesty, this is all I wish to ask this witness."
Luna asked, "Does the prosecution wish to cross-examine the witness?"
Brown Mane replied, "Yes your honor."
Brown Mane walked up to Twilight and asked, "Princess Twilight, so you were with Celestia the whole time except for when you were going to leave? You did not see anything that Rarity or any of the other guests did during the Gala?"
Twilight replied, "No, I saw what Celestia saw, which was none of the interactions among the guests."
Brown Mane asked, "So when Rarity made that odd comment what were your true thoughts?"
Twilight replied, "Like I said, I thought it was kind of odd because that is something that would normally not come out of her mouth. Did I think she literally killed somepony, no I did not. I know Rarity can get mad and she does hold grudges, but she is not the type of pony to go kill somepony else over something."
Brown Mane said, "Ok, thanks for the testimony Twilight. I have no further questions I wish to ask your Majesty."
Luna asked, "Twilight, you may be seated. Does the prosecution have any sort of evidence that leads them to believe that the defendants committed this crime?"
Brown Mane replied, "Yes we do. We have Rarity's dress that she wore to the Gala that night which Celestia has said has a red stain on the red accenting. Celestia, could you give me the dress so I can give it to Princess Luna?"
Celestia replied, "Well uh, you see, I forgot to grab it when I arrested Rarity. Little sister, could I fly down to Ponyville and get the dress. I promise you that it won't take long."
Princess Luna replied, "First off, in court you refer to me as Princess Luna, your honor or your Majesty. You do not just refer to me as little sister. Second, pursuant to Equestrian statute 3.22.75s any piece of evidence that is not present at the very beginning of the court proceedings is not admissible in a court of law. So no you may not go and get it."
Celestia shouted, "BUT HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THEY DID IT?"
Luna shouted, "ORDER IN THE COURT!" Luna continued, "Princess Celestia, I am holding you in contempt of court. Pursuant to Equestrian statute 3.19.88c the sentence for a first time offense for contempt of court is thirty days in the dungeon. After I read my verdicts, you will be taken to the dungeon to serve your sentence. Guards, grab Celestia, she is now classified as a prisoner."
Celestia shouted, "WHO WILL RAISE THE SUN?"
Luna replied, "Hey, you took care of the moon for 1,000 years while I was banished so I can handle the sun for thirty days. Now be quiet or I will increase that by thirty day increments using statute 3.19.88d pertaining to further offenses."
Brown Mane asked, "What does this mean your honor?"
Princess Luna replied, "First it means that after these proceedings are over Celestia will be hauled down to the dungeon. Second, since all testimony has been given and there is no evidence for me to have to deal with, I will now go back into my chambers. I will go over this testimony and once I have come to my verdict, court will resume. Court is in recess."
Twilight took flight towards Princess Luna. She shouted, "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO PRINCESS CELESTIA! YOU DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER!"
Luna grabbed Twilight with her magic and replied, "Alright Twilight, I am holding you in contempt of court as well. You too will spend thirty days in the dungeon. Tell you what, I will put you and Celestia in the same cell so you two can talk all you want. Guards, grab Twilight as well. She too is now classified as a prisoner."
Luna put the two in enchanted chains, ones that they could not teleport out of and ordered the guards to keep them separated from everypony else. As Luna headed to her chambers the lawyers discussed the situations with their clients.
Gray Hooves smiled at Rarity and Spike and said, "I don't think you two have to worry about going to prison. The testimony overwhelmingly shows zero proof that you two committed the crime and given that they have absolutely no evidence, their case is laughable at best.
On the other side of the room Brown Mane looked at North Pole and South Pole and said, "Well I am not going to count on a conviction here. There is no evidence whatsoever that those two committed the crime. I have some advice for you two, no outbursts if she does indeed find them not guilty. You don't want to wind up in the dungeon with Celestia and Twilight I would assume."
Luna headed back to her chambers to go over the testimony and come to her verdicts. Rarity and Spike were just hoping that this would all be over before the day was over while Twilight and Celestia knew that regardless of how things turned out, they would spend thirty days in the dank, dark dungeon.
The Verdicts and the Truth
After only ten minutes Luna has come to her verdicts. Gray Wings says, "All rise, court is back in session. Overseeing these proceedings is the honorable Princess Luna."
Luna got to the bench and said, "You may be seated."
Everypony got sat down and Luna continued, "We have heard a lot of testimony today in the case of Equestria v Rarity the unicorn and Spike the dragon. After taking into account all the testimony I have come to verdicts on both defendants."
Brown Mane asked, "This quickly? You were only back in your chambers for ten minutes."
Luna glared at Brown Mane and replied, "Yes, after only ten minutes, do you have a problem with that? If so, the dungeon is far from full."
Brown Mane said, "I'm sorry your Majesty."
Luna addressed the defendants, "Rarity, Spike, rise while the verdicts are read."
Spike and Rarity rose waiting for Luna to read their verdicts.
Luna said, "In the case of Equestria v Rarity the unicorn, I, Princess Luna find Rarity not guilty on the count of first degree attempted murder. Guards, unchain Rarity, she is free to go."
Rarity ran over to her friends and hugged them.
Luna continued, "In the case of Equestria v Spike the dragon, I, Princess Luna find Spike not guilty on the count of first degree attempted murder. Guards, unchain Spike, he is free to go. Court is adjourned. Guards, take Celestia and Twilight to the dungeon."
Celestia pleaded with her sister, "Please your Majesty, let us go. I am begging you."
Princess Luna stood there and thought for a minute. She said, "You know what Celestia, I am in a very forgiving mood. I will let Rarity and Spike decide the fate of you two. Rarity, Spike, should I let them go or should they serve their sentences?"
Rarity replied, "Well I think you should let them both go your Majesty."
Spike added, "I agree with Rarity your Majesty, I think you should let them go."
Princess Luna said, "Oh alright, I'll let them go since you want me to. Celestia, Twilight, just remember that you two are on thin ice. Even the slightest infraction in any future court proceedings will result in you immediately being put in prison. Celestia, it is time for you to lower the sun so I may raise the moon."
Celestia replied, "Alright little sister, I'm surprised you didn't just put me in jail forever. Well what can you expect out of a pony who is strictly by the book."
Luna said, "Just drop it, ok."
Twilight ran over to her friends and hugged Rarity and Spike. She said, "I knew you two wouldn't let Luna lock me up."
Spike asked, "Twilight, so you can come home with us no questions asked?"
Luna walked up behind them and replied, "Yes, she can go home with all of you. Spike, this is the second time you and Rarity have appeared in court before me together. I know this case was different but I do hope that you two won't get into any situations where you have to appear before me again."
Rarity said, "Don't worry Princess, we won't."
Luna replied, "Oh, we'll see."
They were quiet on the way home but once they got back to Ponyville they headed to the library. Twilight wanted to know the truth. Once they got into the library Twilight asked, "Rarity, Spike, I promise not to tell anypony but I want to know. Did you two impale Blueblood?"
Rarity replied, "Yes Twilight, we impaled Blueblood. I lulled him into a false sense of security by making him think I was Princess Platinum, daughter of Queen Moonheart and King Golden Mane of the Equine Empire. He probably thought that if he could get me to love him and marry him that he could become king over there someday."
Twilight's jaw dropped open. She asked, "Seriously Rarity? You impaled him? How did you impale him to where you missed all his organs?"
Rarity replied, "It must have been dumb luck."
Twilight went on a rant. She said, "You better be glad that Luna hated Blueblood. Had Celestia been the judge she might have found you two guilty because she did still consider Blueblood family. Ugh, I don't know if I can trust you two to be together at all." Twilight then asked, "Spike, what did you think about this. Didn't you try to stop her?"
Spike replied, "Uh, no. I figured that if she thought he deserved it then he deserved it. I was horrified when she first started doing it but then I enjoyed seeing that jerk get impaled."
Very soon Twilight's mane and tail were a complete mess. She said, "I still am having trouble comprehending this. Rarity, I know you hold grudges but to impale a pony because he treated you like dirt a year ago is beyond belief. And Spike, for you to just stand there and not try to stop her, that is not the Spike I know and love. Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves."
Applejack asked, "You know Twilight, he was a rather snobby pony. He did put down and spit out my fritters last year. Good job Rarity, good job Spike I think he got what he deserved. You know what Twilight, I don't think what they did was that bad. What caused Blueblood to die in the end anyway?"
Twilight replied, "So just because he spit out your treats he deserved to die? Regarding how he died, Celestia was trying to remove him from the spear she lost her concentration for just a second. She dropped him and the spear went through his heart."
Fluttershy said, "Well at least it wasn't Rarity who killed him, so it wasn't that bad."
Twilight was about to explode. She shouted, "Do all of you think this wasn't horribly wrong? Am I the only one who thinks this is awful?"
Pinkie replied, "Well I am just glad that our friends were found not guilty. Come on everypony! This calls for a party!"
Everypony except Twilight was cheering and getting ready to head over to Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow asked, "Twilight, aren't you coming?"
Twilight shouted, "NO! Spike, maybe you should just stay with your beloved Rarity for a few days until I calm down. Yeah I hated Blueblood too but what you and Rarity did is despicable. Just go!"
As they left Applejack said, "Wow, I never imagined she would act like that. Maybe you two should have lied to Twilight. It is a good thing that even if she were to go tell Luna that you confessed to her that they would not retry you guys."
Rainbow added, "Well even if she did Luna wouldn't do anything about it. I know she hated him with a passion and luckily she is the only pony in this entire region who is even qualified to be a judge."
Pinkie said, "Well come on everypony. Let's get to Sugarcube Corner and throw a huge party!"
It was a week before Twilight would even talk to any of her friends and it was two weeks before Spike returned to being her assistant. Eventually they would be just as close as ever and Twilight would come to see that the death of Blueblood was indeed a good thing for not just the royal family, but for everypony.
It was a calm day in Ponyville and Rarity had yet to get up. Very shortly Rarity was half awake and felt paws pressing down on her face and then she woke up, "OUCH!" Opal had started to claw her and bit her nose demanding that she be fed.
Rarity shouted, "Opal, naughty! You do not do that to mama! Fine, I will get you some food."
Opal headed down the stairs into the kitchen where she was greeted by a hungry Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle asked, "Hi Rarity! What is for breakfast?"
Rarity got a scowl on her face and replied, "First my cat claws and bites me demanding I feed her and now you are here demanding food too? Do I look I am wearing a chef's hat?"
Sweetie Belle asked, "Come on sis! You aren't open today and there isn't a set time on when you go to your get together with your friends is there?"
Rarity replied, "No, there isn't but I still like to get there at a decent time. After all, Applejack is awful busy with applebucking so she can't spend that much time there and even though she is a princess, Twilight still spends over half of her time studying."
Sweetie Belle got that sad look on her face that Rarity just can't say no to. She then growled, "FINE!"
Rarity opened a can of cat food for Opal and fixed eggs and toast for her and Sweetie Belle and downed it all with apple cider. After breakfast Rarity rushed over to Sugarcube Corner for their Sunday morning get together.
When Rarity got there everypony looked stunned at the severity of the claw and bite marks. Rainbow Dash asked, "Let me guess, you were late getting up to feed Opal just like you were late getting here?"
Rarity glared at Rainbow and replied, "Oh very funny Rainbow. You try getting clawed and bit in the morning."
Applejack asked, "Why were you late anyway?"
Rarity replied, "Well when you oversleep and have a little sister who demands you fix her something to eat like you are her personal chef, you will understand why."
Spike came running into the store holding a message and seven tickets from Princess Celestia. He said, "Twilight, you'll never guess what I just got from the princess."
Twilight levitated the message to herself, got a big smile on her face and shouted, "Girls, Princess Celestia wants us up at the Grand Galloping Gala again this year!"
Pinkie asked, "Really? Even after the disaster that happened last year?"
Twilight replied, "Of course! Remember how awful she thinks it is? Remember how she wanted us there to add some excitement to it? Maybe she wants us there again for that reason."
Rarity got a huge grin on her face and shouted, "Oh wow, it has been a year already? I better get to work on our dresses!"
Applejack asked, "Rarity, before y'all get to work on our dresses, don't you think maybe you better find out what kind of design we want first?"
Rarity calmed herself down and replied, "Of course Applejack! You know how excited I get over things like this!"
"Well alright, let's all head over to Rarity's place so we can talk about what kind of dresses we want this year." said Applejack
After having a few donuts they all headed over to The Carousel Botique to go over various dress designs and accessories. While Rarity's friends were all talking among themselves Spike was sitting in the corner with a dejected look on his face and Rarity saw this.
Rarity walked up to him and asked, "What is wrong my Spikey-Wikey? Aren't you excited about going to the Gala again this year?"
Spike replied, "Oh I just hope that this year we will actually spend some time together instead of all going our separate ways. I mean spending time with Donut Joe and eating lots of sweets is nice but nothing beats spending time with all six of you!"
Rarity smiled and said, "Oh don't worry Spike, if Twilight won't spend time with you I will. Besides, every beautiful lady should have a bodyguard."
Spike got a smile on his face, flexed his muscles and replied, "Well yeah, a beautiful pony will probably have stallions begging to be with you and you deserve the best!"
Rarity got down and whispered in Spike's ear, "Spike, there is one pony I do wish to punish for how mean he was last year."
Spike asked, "Who do you want to punish and what do you want to do to them?"
Rarity saw her friends breaking up their huddle so she said, "Spike, we can discuss this later. This has to stay between us so not a word to Twilight."
Spike replied, "My lips are sealed."
Twilight said, "Rarity, we have decided all the details of how we want our dresses to be this year. I'm sure they won't be any challenge for a pony with your talent."
They spent the next hour discussing how they wanted their dresses. After discussing all of this they headed home. Twilight saw Spike and Rarity talking and decided to ask him what they discussed on the way home.
Twilight asked, "Spike, what were you and Rarity talking about and why were you two talking so low as to where none of the rest of us could hear it?"
Spike replied, "Well you know, Rarity was just talking to me about how she will need a bodyguard at the Gala in case an overly aggressive stallion tries to hurt her."
Twilight laughed, "Oh Spike! Rarity can handle her own against any not so pleasant stallions that come her way!"
Spike decided that he would just drop the issue. He knew that Rarity wanted him to spend time with her at the Gala for specific reasons. He figured he would just let Twilight be surprised.
The Interrogations
The following day arrived and Celestia, her royal guard and Blueblood's brothers were at the royal cemetery laying Blueblood's body to rest. Celestia stood there with tears running down her face said, "I know that he wasn't exactly the most well liked member of the royal family, but this is a sad day for our family."
South Pole, Blueblood's oldest brother asked, "Your Majesty, where is Princess Luna? I thought she would be here as well."
Celestia replied, "Luna had a long night last night. She along with Gray Wings ran into a few manticores in the Everfree Forest and besides, I don't know if she even cares about the death of your brother."
North Pole, Blueblood's other older brother asked, "Princess Celestia, why would she not care about his passing?"
Celestia broke down and started crying harder and harder. She said, "Well she was going on about how he is an embarrassment to the royal family. I do know that she is close with Rarity and it was Rarity who he shunned last year at the Gala."
North Pole replied, "Well I wouldn't think that she would do anything to harm him since they were eating together and dancing together this year."
Celestia asked, "Really?"
North Pole replied, "Yeah, really. I hadn't seen a smile like that on my brother's face in years."
Celestia looked up and said, "Thank you for that information North Pole. You will probably be questioned and called to the stand once we find our suspects and take them to trial."
Once the late afternoon arrived Luna woke up and readied herself for breakfast. Celestia headed into the dining hall and asked, "Luna, did you notice if Rarity and Blueblood spent any time together last night?"
Luna replied, "Not really. I was too busy helping Pinkie keep the Gala exciting. Besides, if there is a trial, what am I supposed to do, switch from being up on the bench down to the witness stand?"
Celestia got a scowl on her face and asked, "So you honestly didn't see anything that Rarity was doing last night or who she was hanging around?"
Luna slammed her hoof on the ground and replied, "No big sister, I didn't. I know her and Spike were together last night but that is it. If you seem to think this is so important, why don't you and his brothers go on some sort of wild goose chase."
Celestia stormed out of the dining hall and decided to head down to Ponyville since North Pole mentioned Rarity and Blueblood hanging around one another that night. Celestia took off and sped towards the east. Within thirty minutes she arrived in Ponyville and headed towards The Carousel Boutique.
When she arrived she headed in and saw Rarity and Twilight talking. Twilight ran up to Celestia and asked, "Princess Celestia, how is your day treating you?"
Celestia replied, "It is going quite well. I really need to talk to Rarity alone. I don't mean to run you off but could you go somewhere else for a while?"
Twilight asked, "Well yeah, I can do that. You and I can spend some time together later on can't we?"
Celestia smiled and replied, "Of course we can!"
Twilight left the boutique and headed home. Celestia looked at Rarity and asked, "Rarity, what sort of things did you do at the Gala a couple nights back?"
Rarity had a kind of nervous smile on her face. She replied, "Well Spike and I spent the evening together. He was showing me around the castle and we were talking about various things, such as gems, good designs for dresses and Canterlot history."
Celestia walked closer to Rarity to make herself appear larger. She asked, "Did anything else happen? Did you happen to bump into any of my nephews?"
Rarity asked, "Are your nephews South Pole and North Pole? If so, I didn't run into them."
Celestia replied, "They are my nephews but they have a younger brother, Prince Blueblood. Did you happen to run into him?"
Rarity answered, "Uh, yeah, I ran into him. I must say, he isn't the friendliest of ponies out there. He saw what I got to eat off of the buffet and he told me that I was gross for eating that much meat! He also said that it is what a commoner from Ponyville would eat like it was a bad thing!"
Celestia said, "Well that is just how he is. He prefers the absolute finest things not just in Equestria, but the entire planet. Sometimes I think that along with the fact that he has himself groomed is why Luna doesn't really care for him and pretty much doesn't even think of him as family."
Celestia was looking around the boutique and saw one of Rarity's maniquins had her dress on it. She walked up to it and saw a dark red spot on the red accents. She asked, "Rarity, this is the dress you wore to the Gala isn't it?"
Rarity replied, "Why yes, it is. Why do you ask?"
Celestia asked, "What is that dark red spot here on the red accents? Did you spill something on it?"
Rarity was starting to get nervous, very nervous. With a nervous smile she replied, "Oh well I think I might have spilled some cranberry juice on it up there or something. I'm not sure."
Celestia put her hoof up to the dress and felt the area where the stain was and noticed it had the feel of a garment that had a blood stain on it. Celestia asked, "Rarity how could you have spilled cranberry juice on this? We didn't even have cranberry juice up there."
Rarity was getting very nervous. She said, "Uh, well maybe I spilled some on it when I got home. I honestly don't remember."
Celestia knew she was lying but decided to go and question Spike before making the decision to take her up to Canterlot. She walked over to the library and knocked on the door. Naturally a very enthusiastic Twilight answered the door, "Princess Celestia! I am so happy you have the time to come talk!"
Celestia interrupted, "Well I need to talk to Spike for a while alone. There is some important information that I think he might know."
Twilight asked, "Can't I stay here while you talk to him. You are acting like Silver Shield did when it was believed that Spike and Rarity stole Octavia's cello."
Celestia used her wing and pushed Twilight out of the library. She said, "Twilight, this won't take too long. After I finish talking to Spike then we can spend some quality time together."
Twilight looked dejected and replied, "Ok Princess, I understand."
Spike had a nervous look on his face and asked, "Hi your Majesty, so what is going on?"
Celestia stood tall and spread her wings wide hoping to intimidate the dragon. She asked, "Spike, did you spend much time with Rarity at the Gala?"
Spike started to stutter he was so nervous. He replied, "U-uh yeah. Wh-Why do you ask?"
Celestia asked, "Before I tell you I want to ask you a question. Did you and Rarity run into Prince Blueblood?"
Spike replied, "Well yeah, we did. He wasn't very nice to Rarity. He was judging her over what she got to eat from the buffet, calling it commoners' food."
Celestia asked, "So did you and Rarity have any other interactions with my nephew?"
Spike replied, "I didn't know he was your nephew. To answer your question no we did not have any other interactions with him."
Celestia decided to ask about the dress, "Spike, when you were with her, did Rarity spill anything on her dress?"
Spike was terrified by this point. He replied, "Uh, uh yeah. She spilled something on the red accenting on her dress."
Celestia asked, "Do you remember what it was that she spilled on her dress?"
Spike replied, "I think it might have been some ketchup or something else red, I don't remember."
Celestia decided that she had questioned him enough. Before leaving she told Spike not to say a word about any of this to Twilight and he agreed not to tell her anything. She then went outside to find Twilight waiting. She asked, "Princess Celestia, what was all of that about?"
Celestia replied, "It wasn't important. I have to get back to Canterlot. Perhaps we can visit at some point in the future."
Celestia spread her wings and took off for Canterlot. Twilight looked at Spike and asked, "Spike, what was all that about?"
Spike replied, "Well uh, Celestia told me not to tell anypony."
Twilight gave him an odd look but knew that Spike would not lie about anything and decided not to discuss it any further. Twilight and Spike sat down for a relatively normal supper, Twilight did some studying and then they hit the hay. Spike had trouble sleeping as he was wondering what all of Celestia's questioning was about.
Rarity was much more nervous than Spike was. She was tossing and turning in bed that night. She realized that Celestia probably knew that she was the one who impaled Blueblood. She then got a smile on her face as she realized that Luna is the judge, jury and executioner up there and that she doesn't care for Blueblood one bit. She said to herself, "Ok Rarity, we will probably be going to trial but hopefully Princess Luna will acquit us."
